Mt Picchu FAQs

Mt Picchu and Inca Trail Machu is a tour operator located in Peru. Our head office is located in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, and our second office is located in Lima, the capital of Peru. Inca Trail Machu created Mt Picchu to help travelers discover the best experience in Peru and make it easy to find us.

We are the best tour operator, and our customers recommend us and return to travel to Peru with us. In 2025, we received an excellent rating from TripAdvisor as a tour operator.

If you are planning to travel to Peru and want to discover Machu Picchu, come and travel with us. We have the best expert personnel to ensure you have the best travel experience.

Booking Inca Trail permits is not complicated. You only need to send your personal details such as your full name, passport number, date of birth, and sex. This information is very important before booking and obtaining your Inca Trail permits. You cannot obtain the Inca Trail permits on your own. There are authorized Inca Trail tour operators who have permission to book the Inca Trail permits. At Inca Trail Machu, we are an authorized tour operator since 2017. If you want to book, contact us and we will help you prepare for your next experience hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Cusco has hundreds of agencies, but only a few are allowed to handle Inca Trail permits and meet safety and sustainability standards. Mt Picchu and Inca Trail Machu has been operating out of Cusco since 2017. They work with licensed local guides, porters, and trekking chefs who are paid fair wages. When choosing an operator, check for a physical office in Cusco, recent TripAdvisor reviews, and clear pricing with no hidden fees. Contact us, and we’ll help you compare different routes and dates that fit your trip.

If you’re in Lima and want to visit Machu Picchu, you can get there without having to stay in Cusco for a long time. You can book a short guided package that includes a flight to Cusco and a visit to the citadel on the same day or overnight.

Our Machu Picchu Tour from Lima is designed exactly for this: two days, a guided visit, and round-trip logistics handled for you at a lower cost than arranging flights, trains, and entrance tickets separately.

If you book through Mt Picchu, which is based in Lima and Cusco, you only have to deal with one company for the whole trip instead of dealing with many different companies. If you have more time, you can combine this with a short hike from Cusco. This is a great way to see more of the region without spending too much money.

The conditions of the trails around Machu Picchu change quickly between sun, rain, and cold mountain air, so it’s more important to pay attention to the quality of your gear than to stick with a certain brand.

When it comes to footwear, hikers should consider boots from brands like Salomon, Merrell, or Columbia. It’s best to break these in before your trip so they’re comfortable and ready to go. For layers, The North Face, Patagonia, and Columbia make reliable raincoats and fleece tops. A good backpack from Osprey or Deuter with a rain cover is comfortable to carry on multi-hour hikes.

The quality isn’t as important as how well it fits and how it was used. If you need gear, there are good outdoor shops near the Plaza de Armas where you can rent or buy equipment before you leave.

As a general rule, pack only the essentials. If you have a porter, they will carry your gear from Kilometer 82 (on the first day) to the Winay Wayna campsite (on the third day). If you don’t have a porter, we recommend keeping your load under 5 kilograms. This should be enough space for your clothes and sleeping bag.

It’s important to have a good rain cover for your backpack because the weather along the Inca Trail can change quickly, and it can rain without warning. If you don’t have one, store your clothes, sleeping bag, and other personal belongings in a plastic bag as a backup.

Bring the right clothes for this hike

During the day, hiking pants and t-shirts are good, along with a sweater, fleece, and a waterproof jacket. Don’t forget to pack a poncho or waterproof jacket and pants in your backpack, since the weather can change quickly and rain can come without warning. At night, it’s important to wear warm clothes. A down jacket is a good choice, or you can wear a fleece shirt with a jacket on top. On day three, if it’s sunny at Machu Picchu, it’s a good idea to bring convertible hiking pants. You can zipper them off into shorts. Machu Picchu has a warm climate, with cooler temperatures only at night.

Here is a complete list of things you will need to pack for the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu:

1. Your original passport (required)
2. Your original International Student Identity Card, if you booked a student discount
3. Cash in Peruvian soles (PEN)
4. A backpack with a change of clothing for the full duration of the hike
5. Waterproof clothing (a jacket and pants if possible) or a rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be bought in Cusco)
6. Sturdy footwear, preferably waterproof trekking boots
7. Sandals or sneakers for comfort around camp
8. Warm clothing such as jackets, fleece layers, and thermal wear, especially for sleeping
9. Flashlight/headlamp with extra batteries
10. Phone/camera with extra batteries (batteries drain faster in cold conditions)
11. A hat or cap for protection from sun, rain, and cold
12. Sunscreen
13. After-sun or moisturizing cream for face and body
14. Insect repellent (minimum 20% DEET recommended; no malaria risk has been reported in the area)Here are some things you might need:
15. Tissues
16. Toilet paper
17. Snacks such as cookies, energy bars, chocolate, fresh fruit, or muesli
18. A water container and water for the first morning (important: Plastic water bottles are no longer allowed at Machu Picchu. We recommend using a reusable bottle such as a Nalgene or a metal container)
19. Swimsuit, if you plan to visit the hot springs in Aguas Calientes

Here are some optional things you might want to bring: You will need trekking poles on the Inca Trail. (Note: The rubber tips on the poles are necessary to prevent damage to the trail.)

There are two companies that run trains to Machu Picchu: PeruRail and Inca Rail. Both companies depart from Ollantaytambo, with some PeruRail services departing from Poroy (Cusco) and Urubamba. You can book directly on perurail.com or incatrail.com. Enter your departure station, date, and number of travelers. Walk-up tickets are extremely limited, so it is recommended that you book 2-4 weeks ahead of time. During high season (May-September), it is recommended that you book 2-3 months ahead of time.

Don’t forget that your train ticket doesn’t include your Machu Picchu entrance ticket. You can buy the entrance ticket separately through the official government portal, “tuboleto.cultura.pe”. Both your train ticket and your Machu Picchu ticket must be reserved because there are limited tickets available for each. Each person is allowed a maximum of 5-8 kg of luggage, depending on the airline. Large suitcases are not allowed on the plane. When you book with MtPicchu, we handle both bookings for you as part of your package.

The dry season, from May to September, offers the clearest skies and best visibility for photos. June to August is the busiest and coolest time, especially at night. April and October are great months to visit, with fewer crowds and nice weather.

The rainy season is from November to March, with January and February being the wettest. The classic Inca Trail closes entirely in February each year for maintenance, but Machu Picchu itself and other treks like Salkantay remain open. If you want to avoid crowds and don’t mind a little rain, October or November are good options. No matter which month you choose, mornings are usually clearer than afternoons, so it’s always worth getting up early.

Once you’re on the trail, you might not have cell signal for most of the route, so apps with offline maps are very useful. Maps.me offline maps let you download the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu area before you go so you can track your position without data.

For the archaeological site itself, downloading an offline map or audio guide beforehand is more reliable than relying on WiFi at Aguas Calientes, which can be spotty. We also recommend bringing a paper copy of your itinerary as a backup. Apps are a helpful tool, but don’t depend on them entirely in the mountains.

The price depends on the route, how long it takes, and how comfortable it is. Multi-day treks like the classic Inca Trail are more expensive because there are only a few permits available, and there are problems with camping and porter support. Short day trips from Cusco or Lima are a more affordable way to see Machu Picchu, and they don’t take as much time. When comparing packages, check exactly what’s included — like train class, entrance circuit, meals, and equipment — since two tours with the same price can be very different.

As a general rule, day trips are the cheapest. Two-day tours are a good balance between time and price. Multi-day Inca Trail treks cost more, but they include the full trekking experience with camping, meals, and porter support. You can find the full list of packages on our Peru Tours page.

For a typical visit to Machu Picchu, it’s best to wear comfortable, breathable clothing, whether you take the train, go on a day trip, or go on a short tour. It’s important to wear layers because the temperatures at the citadel (2,430 m) can feel warm in the sun, but mornings and shaded areas are cool. Bring a light jacket or fleece, even on sunny days.

Comfortable walking shoes with good grip are essential since the site has stone steps and uneven paths, but full hiking boots aren’t necessary unless you’re also climbing Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain. A hat, sunglasses, and breathable pants or shorts are also recommended. Don’t wear heavy or tight clothes. You’ll be walking and climbing stairs for several hours.

If you’re only visiting for a day or on a short tour, pack light. Bring your original passport (you’ll need this to enter the country; photocopies are not accepted), your printed or digital entrance ticket and train ticket, cash in soles for small purchases, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a reusable water bottle (plastic bottles are not allowed inside the archaeological site).

A small daypack is enough to carry these items along with a camera and a light rain jacket, since weather can change quickly even outside the rainy season. If your tour includes an extra circuit like Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, check your ticket for the specific time slot, as entry is strictly controlled.

Private tours cost more than group departures since you’re covering the full price of a guide, transport, and logistics without splitting it across other travelers, but they offer full flexibility on pace, schedule, and stops along the way.

On average, a private day tour to Machu Picchu costs more than the standard group rate for the same route. A private multi-day trek, like the Inca Trail, costs more too, since you need a dedicated guide and support crew just for your group.

The exact cost depends on the number of people in your group. A private tour for two people costs more per person than a family or small group of four to six people sharing the same private guide. Let us know when you want to travel and how many people will be going with you. We will then give you a price estimate for your trip.

The 50% deposit paid to confirm the booking is non-refundable, as it goes right away to Inca Trail permits, Machu Picchu entrance tickets, train tickets, and porter costs. For tours and alternative trips to Machu Picchu, we apply the following scale to the deposit:

• 100% refund if you cancel up to 2 months before the tour.
• 50% refund if you cancel up to 1 month before.
• 25% refund if you cancel less than 20 days in advance.
• 0% refund if you cancel less than 19 days in advance.

Once the final balance is paid, no refunds are given. However, you can cancel one-day trips in Cusco (or the tour through the Sacred Valley) and receive a full refund. Refunds are processed in 7 to 20 business days. They are sent back to the customer’s card and do not include the 9% tax. Bank or transfer fees may apply.

We do not offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our refund policy is based on the cancellation date compared to the tour departure date (see scale above), not on a fixed time from the purchase. This is because the deposit is used right away to secure official Inca Trail permits and Machu Picchu tickets, which the Ministry of Culture and the train companies do not refund or transfer.

Yes, you need to book in advance and pay a deposit to secure your spot. The deposit is 50% of the total cost per person (100% if you book less than two days before the departure date). This is necessary because the Inca Trail has limited spots and the Peruvian government manages these spots. The permits, Machu Picchu tickets, and train tickets are purchased with your personal details (full name, passport number, nationality, and date of birth) as soon as you confirm. The rest of the payment is due when you arrive and is given directly to your guide.